First National Bank launches 26th annual school support drive

First National Bank in Trinidad launched its 26th annual School Support Drive Tuesday. The campaign is aimed at students who start the year without enough supplies to take part in class.

The drive accepts cash donations through Aug. 1. In Trinidad, donations can be dropped off at the Main Bank at 100 East Main Street, the Motor Bank or the Wal-Mart Branch. In Walsenburg, donations go to the Huerfano County Branch at 135 West Sixth Street. In Raton, donations can be taken to the Loan Production Office in the Dona Ana Shopping Center at 1247 South Second Street or mailed to P.O. Box 1046, Raton, NM 87740.

First National's Trinidad headquarters, its Huerfano County Branch in Walsenburg and its loan office in Raton make the drive a three-community effort across Las Animas, Huerfano and Colfax counties. The money is used to help students with needs at home or in school, and support is distributed to area schools based on enrollment. In the 25th annual drive, the bank collected $15,430 in cash donations and matched $3,000, for a total of $18,430. The year before, it raised $13,950 and matched $3,000, and the 23rd annual drive produced $12,319 in cash donations plus another $3,000 from First National.

The 22nd annual drive covered 11 schools in the county, and many students start school without the necessary supplies. Daryl Aubuchon, president of First National Bank in Trinidad, said, “This program provides an excellent opportunity to support our local schools by supplying the resources students need to start the school year.”